Watch These 8 Star Trek Episodes To Truly Understand Commander Riker

Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) made a name for himself as the first officer of the USS Enterprise-D on Star Trek: The Next Generation. While under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Commander Riker gained a reputation as one of the best first officers in the fleet, and he turned down numerous offers of his own command to remain on the Enterprise. Riker became one of Picard's closest friends and confidants, and they remained close even decades later in Star Trek: Picard.

When Star Trek: The Next Generation began, Commander Riker was presented as a by-the-books Starfleet officer with ambitions of becoming a captain. As the show progressed, however, Riker loosened up, developing his own style of command and often coming up with creative solutions on the spur of the moment. TNG's pilot teased Riker's past romance with Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), and the two officers went on to have one of Star Trek's greatest love stories. Will and Deanna finally married in Star Trek: Nemesis, and Riker accepted a promotion to become captain of the USS Titan.

8"A Matter Of Honor"

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 2, Episode 8

When Commander Riker participates in an officer exchange program, he temporarily serves as a first officer aboard the Klingon ship IKS Pagh, under the command of Kargan (Christopher Collins). Riker seeks out Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn) to learn about Klingon customs, and he fully embraces his role on the Klingon ship. Although Riker remains loyal to Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets, he impresses the Klingons with his commitment to their way of life.

Riker cleverly avoids a fight between the Klingons and the Enterprise, tricking Captain Kargan when he refuses to stand down. In the end, Riker allows Kargan to hit him so that the Klingon captain can reclaim some of his dignity. Riker has truly done his research and understands the high value Klingons place on honor. Riker never once disrespects Klingon culture, coming across not only as a great officer, but also as a genuinely good person with a desire to learn about cultures different from his own.

7"The Icarus Factor"

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 2, Episode 14

Not only does "The Icarus Factor" depict the first time Commander Riker is offered his own command, it also introduces his father, Kyle Riker (Mitchell Ryan). Will and his father have not spoken in fifteen years, and Kyle Riker immediately comes across as arrogant and unlikable. The episode reveals that Will's mother passed away when Riker was a toddler, and the grief caused by her death eventually led to a rift between Kyle and Will.

Kyle abandoned his son when Will was only fifteen years old, meaning Will learned how to fend for himself early. Not only does this help explain how Riker became such a competent officer at a relatively young age, it's also likely part of the reason why he chose to prioritize his career over his relationship with Deanna Troi. Riker had the confidence to command a starship, but struggled with emotional vulnerability.

6"Peak Performance"

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 2, Episode 21

When the Enterprise participates in a combat exercise, Riker is given command of the outdated USS Hathaway. Riker chooses his crew, and they begin working to find ways to combat the Enterprise, which is significantly more powerful than the Hathaway. With some help from Ensign Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) and Lt. Worf, Riker tricks the Enterprise with a fabricated image of a Romulan warbird.

The Hathaway scores the first hit against the Enterprise, impressing Kolrami. When a Ferengi ship approaches, believing the war games to be real, Picard and Riker work together to deceive the Ferengi into thinking the Hathaway was destroyed. Not only is Riker incredibly likable throughout "Peak Performance," but he proves himself to be a clever and quick-thinking commander multiple times over.

5"The Best Of Both Worlds"

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 3, Episode 26 & Season 4, Episode 1

Star Trek: The Next Generation's "The Best of Both Worlds" two-parter may be most remembered for Captain Picard's transformation into Locutus of Borg, but the story also cements Commander Riker as one of Star Trek's best first officers. After Picard's assimilation, Riker takes command of the Enterprise, giving the order to fire on the Borg cube even knowing that it would mean the death of his friend and former captain.

As any good Starfleet officer should, Riker prioritizes the safety of Earth and the Federation over the life of one man. But that doesn't mean he gives up on Captain Picard. With a particularly clever use of a saucer separation, Riker creates an opening for Worf and Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) to rescue Picard. After the Borg are defeated, Riker turns down another offer of command, knowing that no ship can compare to the Enterprise.

4"Second Chances"

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 6, Episode 24

In "Second Chances," the Enterprise-D discovers an exact duplicate of Will Riker, who has been stranded on the inhospitable planet of Nervala IV for the last eight years. A transporter accident resulted in one Riker being beamed back to the USS Potemkin, while a clone Riker remained on the planet. Lt. Riker chooses to go by his middle name, Thomas, and he struggles to find his place among the Enterprise crew.

The last eight years have turned Will Riker into a different person, and Thomas retains the recklessness of a younger Riker. Thomas rekindles his romance with Deanna Troi, who comes to see the strange situation as a second chance. "Second Chances" is a fascinating character study of Riker, as it literally pits two different versions of him against one another. In the end, Thomas departs the Enterprise for another assignment, and Will gives him his trombone as a parting gift.

3"The Pegasus"

Star Trek: The Next Generation - Season 7, Episode 12

When Admiral Erik Pressman (Terry O'Quinn)​​​​​​ visits the Enterprise, Riker must decide whether to remain loyal to his former captain or his current one. Riker served under Captain Pressman while aboard the USS Pegasus, which had been presumed destroyed years before. Throughout "The Pegasus," it becomes clear that Pressman participated in some kind of cover-up, and Riker is struggling with whether to come clean to Captain Picard.

It's eventually revealed that the Pegasus was being used to test an illegal Federation cloaking device when the accident that killed most of its crew occurred. An ensign at the time, Riker had fled with Captain Pressman after many of the crew members mutinied. Riker eventually proves his integrity by revealing the truth to Picard, even though it means disobeying direct orders from Pressman.

2"Nepenthe"

Star Trek: Picard - Season 1, Episode 7

Star Trek: Picard season 1 revealed that Riker and Troi had settled together on Nepenthe in the hope that the planet's healing properties would help their son, Thaddeus, recover from an illness. Tragically, Thad passed away, leaving Riker, Troi, and their daughter Kestra (Lulu Wilson). When Picard shows up on Riker's doorstep with the android Soji (Isa Briones) in tow, Will and Deanna immediately welcome them into their home before they even know why they're there.

Although Riker had taken a break from Starfleet in the wake of his son's illness, he and Troi remained close with Picard, and they trust his judgment without reservation. Riker has settled into family life, making pizza and joking with his daughter. Still, he's smart enough to figure out the reason for Picard's visit, clocking that Soji is an android related to Data and realizing that the Romulan Tal Shiar are involved.

1"Seventeen Seconds"

Star Trek: Picard - Season 3, Episode 3

After Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick) is injured in the battle with Vadic (Amanda Plummer) and her ship, the Shrike, Shaw transfers command of the USS Titan-A to Captain Riker. Trapped in a nebula, Riker wants to flee the Shrike to prioritize the crew's safety, but Picard urges him to fight. Riker eventually goes with Picard's plan and fires on the Shrike, only to watch, horrified, as the Shrike's portal weapon sends the Titan's torpedoes right back at them.

Throughout "Seventeen Seconds," Riker does his best to get the Titan out of danger, but his strategies keep failing. Still, Riker never loses hope, jumping from one tactic to the next and relying on the ship's crew to do their jobs well. As always, Riker proves to be a great captain even when his plans don't work, and Jonathan Frakes truly delivers (as both an actor and a director). In the dramatic final scene, Riker orders Picard off the Titan's bridge, blaming him for the ship's predicament.

Picard and Riker eventually come back together, realizing that they work best as a team, just as they did throughout all seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation.